Learning to Lead - Leading from the Middle

Even if we are the boss, we always have someone over us.

· Try to think of any bad bosses you’ve had

Boss jokes!

· They say dress for the job you want, not the job you have. My boss still didn’t think a batman costume was “Appropriate work attire.”

· "And remember," said the boss, "There's no I in TEAM!" "Yeah," muttered one of the peons, "And there's not much sign of U in it either."

· My boss told me to have a good day. So I went home.

· My boss calls me "The computer." Not because of my calculation skills but because I go to sleep when left unattended for 15 minutes.

· I told my boss that I wanted an increase in my paycheck. My next one had a larger font.

· Boss: "Sarcasm will get you nowhere in life!" Me: "Well It got me to the 'International Sarcasm' finals in Santiago 2011." Boss: "Really?" Me: "No."

· What do you call the boss at Old McDonald's Farm ? The CIEIO.

We have discussed Nehemiah’s job previously.

· He was a trusted part of the Kings’ inner circle – He guarded against someone trying to poison the king

· But make no mistake, He was accountable to an authoritarian King

o Whose word could mean life or death

This morning I want to show you how to be successful when you are not the boss!

· My brother’s Doctrinal Dissertation was on.

o Leading from the middle

o Middle management

§ Most leaders are in this position

§ Being in the middle is hard

· You have to be supportive and effective at the same time.

Nehemiah 2:1–10 (NLT)

1 Early the following spring, in the month of Nisan, during the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes’ reign, I was serving the king his wine. I had never before appeared sad in his presence.

2 So the king asked me, “Why are you looking so sad? You don’t look sick to me. You must be deeply troubled.”

Then I was terrified,

· The Persian kings were impossible at best and were often cruel

o Looking sad in the Kings presence could lead to death

§ Persian rulers did not like subordinates to be gloomy in their presence.

· Leading when you are afraid.

o Every new venture of my life I have been afraid

§ Leaving Home going to college

§ Leaving college to work my first ministry position

§ Getting married

§ Having kids

§ Planting a church

§ Leaving that church

§ Moving here

· Every major step we have taken as a church I been afraid

§ Getting Married

· We have several couples getting married soon

· Ron and Tina – Erica and Tom – Jordan and Amanda

· My Son and Liz

· Joe and Becky

o You should be afraid – this is a big step!!

· Every big step carries with it some apprehension and probably should!

· But you still have to do it!!!

o You have to lead Afraid in order accomplish the mission

§ To write the story you want to write about your life!

The next think Nehemiah had to do was even harder!

3 but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.”

4 The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven,

5 I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.”

· In addition to that, Nehemiah wanted to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, and it was this king who earlier had been petitioned and had stopped work on the rebuilding of the walls as a result of that petition. Nehemiah’s plan meant asking him to reverse his own policy.

o The king had told the people to stop building the walls!

o His policy was law!!

· That’s why Nehemiah said a little prayer

· Before he asked

o Send me to Judah to rebuild the city!!

· He was more than afraid – He was terrified

o This was life and death

6 The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request.

· The king granted his request

Then Nehemiah asks for more…

7 I also said to the king, “If it please the king, let me have letters addressed to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, instructing them to let me travel safely through their territories on my way to Judah.

· I need a letter from you to the governors

· So he could travel safely.

But wait there is more!!!!

8 And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me.

· Can you pay for this??

This was no small “ask” -

· This was not a day off

o This was can you reverse your policy, give me authority, tell the governors to stand down and pay for it???

Quite a few years ago – we were looking to have this road next door vacated to us. The parties agreed and then backed out!

· I was so upset and angry!

· I wanted to confront those that backed out destroying our plans

o I was walking the road and praying

o And I sense God saying

§ They are not god – I am God!

o And sure enough we got the road

o Then the road behind

· Vision is confirmed by provision!

o Lord put it on my heart to building first time in 35 years.

§ Someone died and left a 1/3 of the estate to the church

o Tax exemption was revoked on property we owned

o Sold the property for enough to build!

Provision is confirmation of vision!!

How do we work from the middle up!

How do we positively influence those above us?

6 Steps to Influence those above us in Leadership:

1. Loyalty –

· Don’t work against your boss

2. Tact

· Don’t be rude.

· Don’t fly off the handle

3. Honesty

· Speak truth – don’t exaggerate or manipulate for your own purposes

4. Prayer

· Quick prayer at the time needed

o Prayerogram

o Instaprayer

5. Planning

· Nehemiah had a plan when he went to see the king

o Here is what I want to do

o Here is how it can be accomplished

6. Dependance on God

· Prayer and Dependence on God

o Does not minimize the other aspects

o They all work together

§ To accomplish the vision – the mission – the goals

God has placed you where He wants you to accomplish Great things for His Glory!

You have to lead – Sometimes Terrified!

· You must do what you can do and leave the rest in God’s hands!

Look what the king did for Nehemiah

9 When I came to the governors of the province west of the Euphrates River, I delivered the king’s letters to them. The king, I should add, had sent along army officers and horsemen to protect me.

· God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than you could ask or imagine!!!

But!!! - Not everyone will be Happy!!

10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard of my arrival, they were very displeased that someone had come to help the people of Israel.